(DETROIT – February 4, 2010) - Metro Detroit businesses, both large and small, have gotten behind American Red Cross relief efforts in Haiti, following the devastating earthquake.

Health Alliance Plan (HAP) and its parent company, Henry Ford Health System, set up an online donation site for Red Cross relief efforts, after an outpouring from employees expressing the desire to help. Henry Ford Health System is matching employee donations up to a total of $10,000. As of last Friday, employees at both companies throughout southeast Michigan had donated $24,069, equaling $34,069 with the company match.

The Detroit Medical Center (DMC) also set up an online donation link to the Red Cross Haiti relief fund, allowing its nearly 12,000 employees in eight hospitals to contribute directly. As of Friday, DMC employees had contributed $18,800.

Quicken Loans 3,000 team members in metro-Detroit, Cleveland, Oh and Scottsdale, Ariz., have all stepped-up to contribute to the Red Cross’ relief efforts. Team members have several ways to contribute, including payroll deduction. The company is also matching all donations dollar-for-dollar with no set maximum.

Quicken Loans has also held several fund-raisers including jeans days and a pot-luck lunch fundraiser. While fundraisers are ongoing, Quicken Loans has already raised $30,000.

The General Motors Foundation donated $100,000 to the Red Cross relief fund, and also set up a web link where employees can donate to the Red Cross.

Ford Motor Co. also set up a web link for employees to donate to the Red Cross, and pledged a generous matching grant.

TRW Automotive is raising money through a charity jeans day next Thursday, where all 300 employees at its Washington, Mich. location are encouraged to wear jeans in exchange for contributing at least $5 for Red Cross relief efforts.

Two Detroit Tigers got in the action in a big way. Outfielder Magglio Ordonez donated $100,000 to Red Cross Haitian relief efforts, and first baseman Miguel Cabrera gave $90,000 to Project Medishare for Haiti Inc., which is providing medical relief.

The Detroit Tigers also invited Red Cross volunteers from the Southeastern Michigan Chapter to its recent TigerFest to collect contributions from fans for Haitian relief, and the ball club raised additional money through fundraisers and pitched in a matching grant.

At Valassis, its Giving Committee set up an internal pledge drive, where its roughly 5,000 US-based employees made pledges for the Red Cross via company email. So far, employees have made donations of about $10,000 for the cause.

Other organizations that are raising money for Red Cross Haitian relief efforts include:

The Detroit Red Wings Foundation, which is donating money from a recent 50/50 fundraising raffle.

Chrysler Financial, which is raising money through a charity jeans day.

GST AutoLeather, which gave a substantial company donation.

The City of Southfield, whose staff is putting on various fundraisers.

All kinds of smaller organizations have been equally generous in their support - from schools, restaurants and grocery stores, to senior apartment centers and places of worship. Collection plates have been passed around. Schools have held fundraisers, such as charging $1 to wear a cap, and restaurants have donated proceeds from dinners. Another organization held a drop-in “Yoga for Haiti” charity class.

Red Cross Haiti Response Update:

Logistical problems are getting smaller, and the humanitarian pipeline is opening wider each day, but the needs in Haiti are still immense.
So far, more than 64 flights carrying Red Cross aid have arrived in Haiti.
Four Red Cross warehouses are open and operating at full capacity.
The Red Cross is now producing 1 million liters of water per day, enough for 185,000 people to receive 5.4 liters per day. Teams are preparing to latrine construction, also.
To date, Red Cross distributions of food and relief items (blankets, kitchen sets, hygiene kits, buckets, water containers, laundry soap/detergent, and mosquito nets) have reached nearly 100,000 people (or 20,000 families).
The Red Cross, in partnership with UNICEF and the World Health Organization, will begin a vaccination program this Friday to vaccinate 150,000 children against measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus. The Red Cross will also be teaching basic health skills, and emotional support teams will be helping children with the emotional trauma.
At the six Red Cross health facilities, a total of 1,200 patients are being treated each day.
Because of the generosity of donors, people in Haiti will receive more than immediate relief – they will receive resources, support and training from the Red Cross that will help them for years to come.

About the American Red Cross, Southeastern Michigan Chapter

The American Red Cross, Southeastern Michigan Chapter is a non-profit humanitarian organization that turns caring into action by providing three core services for residents in the tri-county area: relief to disaster victims, support to military personnel (both active and veteran) and their families, and the knowledge and skills to help the community prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. We are volunteer-driven and reflect the diversity of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties. As part of the international Red Cross network, we are dedicated to protecting human life and dignity locally, nationally and worldwide.

To learn more, log on to www.semredcross.org or follow our blog at www.semtourofduty.org.

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